Bahrain Airport Company highlights Bahrain International Airport’s competitive advantages at Air Cargo Europe 2023

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), showcased the airport’s facilities and services at Air Cargo Europe 2023, the industry’s largest global exhibition and conference. The BAC delegation, led by Chief Development and Technical Officer Abdulla Janahi, highlighted BIA’s competitive advantages as a regional air cargo hub, including the offerings of the upcoming Cargo Express Village.

 Air Cargo Europe 2023, which took place in Munich, Germany from 9 to 12 May after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic provided a platform for key players in the airfreight industry to network, explore potential partnership opportunities, and discuss the latest trends shaping the industry.

Mr. Janahi said: “We are pleased with the outcome of our participation in Air Cargo Europe 2023 and are confident that the event will help us achieve our goal of building BIA’s reputation as a leading air cargo hub in the region. The launch of the new Cargo Express Village will increase Bahrain International Airport’s capacity to 1.6 million. Phase one of the project will be completed by the end of 2023, putting us in an even stronger position to forge new connections with key players and meet the evolving demands of the air cargo sector.”

He added: “Designed to support Bahrain's vision of becoming one of the world's leading air cargo hubs by 2030, the facility will streamline cargo operations at BIA. With dedicated zones for specific types of operations, it will offer a wider range of facilities and services, making it easier and faster for companies to reach their customers across the region and beyond. The Cargo Express Village will also allow us to keep pace with rising local and regional demand for e-commerce and express cargo services.”

As a pillar of Bahrain's transportation infrastructure, BIA is committed to supporting the growth of the Kingdom’s cargo sector and increasing its contribution to Bahrain's GDP. The upcoming Cargo Express Village will play a key role, enabling BIA to handle larger volumes, better cater to express cargo customers’ needs, and create new job opportunities.

Located north of the BIA runway, the Cargo Express Village will feature warehouses, aircraft parking, and associated infrastructure. It will also support major players already based at the airport, including global logistics giant DHL Express. In 2021, FedEx Express signed up as the Cargo Express Village’s anchor tenant and will operate 5,000 sqm at the new facility.